Book Review: "A Dash of Flash" by Millie Thom

I attended a short story course at school that changed my literary views some years ago. Firstly, because I discovered that you can tell an entire story in no more than one page and with a wide range of resources ㅡplot twists, cliffhangers, parodies, uff! Secondly, that you can receive a huge impact from those tiny stories, and finally, that these aren't so easy to write precisely for the first two statements (or maybe they're but not for me *insert stressed emoji here*).

Even though Thom's book can be read quickly, I couldn't do it because of work and school, but I think such thing helped in the end because I could read a bit here and there and from time to time. Furthermore, the plots are so varied that it's not necessary to read it that fast or read it in the provided order, so I'm sure you can find a story that pleases you, or maybe you like them all! The magic about this kind of fiction is that you actually don't know what to expect: you can receive a sudden spark of inspiration because you want to write your own version or maybe you get an avalanche of shivers because of that impressive plot twist.

This is a very light reading and I recommend it to people that enjoy short fiction, but mostly to those that have never tried it before. My rating might not be the highest, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it, I just think some of the stories weren't read in the right moment for me, but this situation can be completely different for someone else!

I could read this book thanks to the author and Booktasters ;)

MILLIE THOM is a former geography and history teacher with a degree in geology and a particular passion for the Anglo-Saxon and Viking period. Originally from Lancashire, she is a mother of six grown-up children and now lives with her husband in a small village in Nottinghamshire, midway between the town of Newark and the lovely old city of Lincoln. When not writing, Millie enjoys long walks and is a serious fossil hunter. She is also an avid traveler, swimmer, and baker of cakes!

Read More

Book Review: "Hardened Hearts" [edited] by Eddie Generous

When we think about love stories we always end up thinking about flowers and chocolates, about kisses and walks during a warm sunset. Happy endings. But the line between love and horror is as thin as the single page of a book. 

Hardened Hearts caught my attention since the very beginning with the foreword by James Newman, which reminds you that, indeed, love isn't easy, that makes you bleed and hurt and rage. I think that Newman wrote the perfect book summary: They are stories about sexual love and love between star-crossed romantics, but also included here are stories of a guilt-ridden father's love for his little girl, obsessions with inanimate objects, and even one woman's unnatural, and shared, love for a spider (!).

Love is strange...

I almost wrote this review in a different way, focusing on each story, but then I thought that I could end up spoiling some of them, because WOW! They were 3 of them especially that I'll totally reread whenever I have the chance! What I can say about it, is that this is one of those books that you can't put down easily. I had to, because of work and school, but it's not like the stories left my mind, really. There was one story that reminded me of my first heartbreak, there was another that made me feel terrible and hoping it would never happen to me, and another one that made my jaw drop because the ending wasn't what I was expecting.

Hardened Hearts tells you about self-love, love after death, sexual love, family love, broken hearts, and maybe some kinky love (WOMAN, A SPIDER, REALLY? Haha, sorry, my fear is speaking here); its characters are varied and inclusive, full of fear and doubt but some kind of hopeful as well, so I think almost everyone can feel identified with at least one of their sentences. 

The writing of all of them was impeccable and dark, and for some stories, I was left wanting more. If there's a chance to make a Volume 2 of this, please, don't hesitate to make another compilation!

The authors you can find in here are:
Gwendolyn Kiste
Somer Canon
Calvin Demmer
Theresa Braun
John Boden
Tom Deady
J.L. Knight
Madhvi Ramani
Scott Hallam
Robert Dean
Leo X. Robertson
Jennifer Williams
Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi
Sarah L. Johnson
Meg Elison
James Newman
Eddie Generous

The only reason I gave this book 4 stars is because there are some stories with explicit sex, drug abuse or rape. I don't mind the topics, I've read them in other stories, but I think is important for other people that might feel threatened by these. Please be careful when reading or recommending this book.

I could read this book thanks to author Theresa Braun and Booktasters ;)

THERESA BRAUN was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and has carried some of that hardiness with her to South Florida where she currently resides with her two fur babies, who are her creative sidekicks. She enjoys delving into creative writing, painting, photography and even bouts of ghost hunting. Traveling is one of her passions--in fact, her latest adventure took her to Romania for a horror writers' workshop where she followed in the steps of Vlad the Impaler. She writes horror fiction and the occasional romance. 

Read More

Book Review: "Ann, Not Annie" by Sage Steadman

Not till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves.

Henry David Thoreau

The first thought I had when I finished the book was HELL, YEAH!

This book was awesomely written. The irony, the vocabulary, and the descriptions provided by the characters and the narrator fit perfectly for all situations. Plus, the idea of having a narrator as a very close person to the main character gives you a more personal approach, which makes you feel familiar and sympathetic.

The thing that surprised me the most was the story behind what I read in the synopsis. When I read it, it seemed quite simple, I honestly thought this would be a very basic book about teenage love and I'm very pleased to say I was very wrong.

Ann, Not Annie tells us accurately how it is for a teenager to have an alcoholic parent and the role that sometimes children have to take so they can have some order in their lives; a thing that isn't right, a thing that hurts, and wow, that was incredibly well-described. I can give it credit because I've been in the same situation.

More pros about this book are definitely its characters, they all had something that made them be unique in their own way, the drawings were an interesting addition, and I think adding the use of intertextuality with Walden was quite smart. I've always liked to have more texts to read later, that also gives you an idea of how an author gets their inspiration, which is more than cool!

The thing that gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 was the pace at the end. I felt it was faster compared to the first chapters. There are a few typos as well, but I think I shouldn't criticize that because English isn't my mother tongue and I know I don't write it perfectly.

I could read this book thanks to the author and Booktasters ;)

SAGE STEADMAN was awarded a master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah. While pursuing her passion for writing, she worked as a licensed mental health therapist. She published her debut novel, Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter, in 2010 under her pen name, The Hippie, and since, re-released the second edition under her real name. The novel has been deemed an “idyllic” read, filled with love, humor, romance, and heart. She is also the co-author of the gritty and inspiring historical fiction novel, Upon Destiny’s Song, alongside classical guitarist, Mike Ericksen. She is also the author of the YA novels, The Waking Dream, and Ann, Not Annie. Sage is heralded as a talented writer who tackles her novels with a witty, raw and honest approach. She currently lives near Salt Lake City, Utah with her family.

Read More